Mayors: Tackle citizenship in reform

A coalition of 15 mayors across the country urged Congress on Friday to pass a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws – and pressed lawmakers to include an “opportunity to earn eventual citizenship” for millions of undocumented immigrants.

In the two-page letter sent Friday afternoon, the mayors said they “keenly understand the need for significant reform,” observing “up close the shortcomings” of current U.S. laws for immigrants, employers and national security. The letter’s signers include mayors from some of the country’s largest cities, including Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles.

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Among other things, the mayors argued that current undocumented immigrants should eventually obtain citizenship after meeting a series of requirements like background checks and paying back taxes. Current undocumented immigrants should also wait after those who are “already in line” to obtain green cards and citizenship, the mayors wrote.

The treatment of undocumented workers is one of the biggest challenges to passing immigration legislation, with many Republicans opposed to anything that could be deemed amnesty.

“We want to encourage the full integration of all newcomers and thus, any legalization program should include an opportunity to earn eventual citizenship,” the mayors wrote in the letter, which was addressed to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and provided to POLITICO.

The letter also stressed family reunification and said young documented immigrants, commonly known as “Dreamers,” should have a “clear” pathway to citizenship.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors, a broader coalition, penned a Jan. 31 letter conveying a similar message to lawmakers. But Friday’s missive to Capitol Hill was explicit on the need to ensure that a way to obtain citizenship is included in any immigration overhaul.

In its principles released last week, House Republican leaders endorsed legalization for current undocumented immigrants but stopped short at explicitly calling for citizenship. Still, Boehner has dialed back predictions doing immigration reform this year, telling reporters on Thursday that it would be “difficult” to do an overhaul because of the GOP distrust of the Obama administration.

“The nation’s mayors deal with this problem every day,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, who spearheaded the letter. “We know how critical it is that we see immigration reform that includes a pathway to earned citizenship enacted this year.”